Nigeria FootballNigeria Professional Football League
NPFL Week 20 Review: Kano Pillars end Plateau United unbeaten run as Ranger, Wikki win away from home
Tornadoes missing two penalties in the space of 7 minutes, Rangers and Wikki winning away from home and Kano Pillars beating Plateau United to end their run of 7 games without a defeat, were the highlights of the NPFL week 20 games.
A total of 19 goals were scored in 9 games played across the league.
At the Onikan Stadium in Lagos, Table-toppers Wikki beat Ikorudu United in front of their own fans On Sunay to remain top of the Nigeria Professional Football League log.
Idris Guda’s 85th minutes strike was enough to earn Yakubu Maidajin boys the maximum points away from home.
At Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, Pillars who were without a win in their last 4 games beat Plateau United one nil on the night thanks to Ifeanyi Matthew’s goal from the spot in the 70th minutes.
A goal bound shot from Matthew touched the arm of Kelechi John in the penalty area and the refree pointed to the spot and Matthew made no mistakes from the spot.
The defeat means Kano Pillars ended Plateau United’s run of 7 games without a defeat. United’s longest unbeaten streak since 1999/00.
Rangers came from a goal down to beat Heartland at the Dan Ayiam Stadium in Owerri. Heartland with the home support took the lead in the 12th minute through Julius Ubido’s goal from a free kick.
Rangers threw everything into the game and soon were rewarded when Udeagha tapped in to score from Osas Okoro’s free kick five minutes after Heartland took the lead.
Rangers’ danger-man Egbuchulam scored from the spot to give them the lead and the goal proved to be the winning goal.
The victory means Rangers Int’l have ended a run of 13 away losses at Heartland – winning for the first time since 2001.
In a tight, eagerly fought contest match at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt on Sunday evening, Christian Weli’s 78th minute header secured maximum points for Rivers United against visiting Lobi Stars of Makurdi.
At the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja, Niger Tornadoes missed two penalties but still won the game 2-1 in front of their home fans.
Lukman Mohammed, Samuel Tswanya missed penalties 12th an 19th minutes of the match but Usman Bashir who came in the 2nd half scored put the home side in front, Ifeanyiubah equalized through a freekick in the 74th minutes.
Tasiu Lawal scored the winning goal in the 71st minute to earn Tornadoes the maximum points.
At the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, goals from Adetunji Sunday, Ajani Ibrahim and Rasaq Adegbite goals gave the Oluyole Warriors the maximum points in Ibadan.
At the Aper Aku Stadium in Markurdi, Nasarawa United came from a goal down to beat the League Champion Enyimba 2-1 on Sunday.
Ifeanyi George put the champions ahead in the 7th minutes before Esosa Igbinoba scored from the spot for the hosts.
Abdulrahman Bashir 28th minutes strike from close range settled the tie in Markurdi.
Match Day 20 results
Kano Pillars 1-0 Plateau Utd
Ikorodu Utd 0-1 Wikki
Heartland 1-2 Rangers
Sunshine Stars 1-1 Abia Warriors
Shooting Stars 3-0 Akwa Utd
Rivers Utd 1-0 Lobi
Nasarawa Utd 2-1 Enyimba
Tornadoes 2-1 FC Ifeanyiubah
El-Kanemi 2-0 Wolves
